TOP TALKER – N.Y. Times A13, For Christie and MSNBC, a Messy Divorce Plays Out in Full Public View,” by Michael Barbaro and Bill Carter, with Kitty Bennett, Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Jonathan Martin: “The governor’s predicament is a ratings bonanza for MSNBC, whose left-leaning viewers are eating up every development in the sordid scandal. … Christie aides have called it a ‘feeding frenzy.’ … Mika Brzezinski, a co-host of MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ who makes no secret of her affection for Mr. Christie, seemed taken aback by the governor’s harsh critique. ‘I was a little surprised when he took a jab at us,’ she said in an interview on Sunday. ‘I don’t think it’s legitimate to say this is a partisan attack … I think this is a very real story, with legs.’

“MSNBC executives and hosts said the tale … had riveted its audience, and they made no apologies for their near-saturation coverage. ‘It is a great mystery story,’ said Steve Kornacki, the host of an MSNBC show that has doggedly pursued new angles … Over the nine-day period since the controversy erupted, MSNBC has dedicated nearly twice as much coverage to Mr. Christie as CNN and about three times as much as Fox News, according to Mediaite … For the week of Jan. 6, … Rachel Maddow, who had pursued the story for more than a month, scored a rare weekly win, beating the perennial ratings leader Fox News among the … 25 to 54 viewer category. It was the first time Ms. Maddow … had won a ratings week in more than a year …

Story Continued Below

“Immediately after Mr. Christie concluded his apologetic news conference about the controversy last week, he spent 15 minutes on the phone with Ms. Brzezinski as he prepared to face Fort Lee … Those close to Mr. Christie say the attack on MSNBC reflects his office’s effort to assert control over a story that has quickly snowballed.” http://goo.gl/9XcYVx

--“MORNING JOE” GRAPHICS: The Times story is illustrated with a screengrab labeling Christie, “JERSEY FRESH.” This morning, the show’s graphic reads: “Gathering Storm.”

--BACKLASH ON RIGHT HELPS CHRISTIE -- “GOP activists side with Chris Christie over media,” by Katie Glueck: “Conservative activists haven’t exactly been beating the drums for Chris Christie to run for president … But as they watch the bridge traffic scandal unfold in New Jersey, … ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ … [U]nrelenting coverage of Christie’s troubles over the past 10 days is generating a surprising level of sympathy for the moderate Republican Garden Stater among some conservatives who have not been fans in the past. … Interviews with more than a dozen establishment Republicans and conservative activists from Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina revealed consistent approval for Christie’s handling of what these party loyalists view as a nonissue — even as some made clear that they haven’t necessarily embraced the moderate governor beyond that. …

“Ann Trimble-Ray, an activist from Northwest Iowa with close ties to deeply conservative Rep. Steve King, said there is a quiet sense that the governor is being mistreated on the national stage … It’s been a quick fall from grace for Christie, a favorite of the Republican establishment whose proximity to the New York media and skirmishes with more conservative members of his own party have translated into outsize coverage in the Northeast corridor. … [Tim Albrecht, a GOP strategist who until recently was spokesman for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, said:] ‘I think there is definitely an opening for him, given that grass-roots activists don’t trust the East Coast media to give Republicans a fair shake. It could work in his favor among conservative activists in early states.’” http://goo.gl/ooDVNC

THE REV. DR. KING, as he was seen in his time: Boston Globe banner, April 5, 1968: “The Minister of Peace Is Slain” … N.Y. Times obituary, p. 25, April 5, 1968, “Martin Luther King Jr.: Leader of Millions in Nonviolent Drive for Racial Justice -- CAREER A SYMBOL OF INTEGRATION – Nobel Winner Was Attacked by Both Negro Militants and White Extremists,” by Murray Schumach: “To many millions of American Negroes, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the prophet of their crusade for racial equality. He was their voice of anguish, their eloquence in humiliation, their battle cry for human dignity. He forged for them the weapons of nonviolence that withstood and blunted the ferocity of segregation.” Text of the obituaryhttp://goo.gl/UTKQzDPDF of the pagehttp://goo.gl/XThh5e

--DR. KING, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Dec. 10, 1964: “I accept the Nobel Prize for Peace at a moment when 22 million Negroes of the United States of America are engaged in a creative battle to end the long night of racial injustice. … I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. … I accept this prize on behalf of all men who love peace and brotherhood.

“Every time I take a flight I am always mindful of the many people who make a successful journey possible, the known pilots and the unknown ground crew. So you honor the dedicated pilots of our struggle who have sat at the controls as the freedom movement soared into orbit. …

“Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in ‘Who's Who.’ Yet when the years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live -- men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization -- because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake.” Video http://goo.gl/vnW2EWTexthttp://goo.gl/YQ8zto

** A message from the National Retail Federation: With an audience of 30,000 at Retail’s BIG Show last week, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay outlined recent advocacy victories for the industry in 2013, as well as three top policies NRF will advocate for in 2014. Video: http://bit.ly/L6lfgb #nrf14 **

BULLETIN – “Iran halts higher-grade uranium enrichment” – Reuters: “Iran has halted its most sensitive nuclear activity under a ground-breaking deal with world powers, … paving the way for the easing of some Western sanctions.” http://goo.gl/B85BZB

MRS. OBAMA’S PARTY – “Beyoncé, John Legend fete Michelle Obama at birthday bash” – AFP: “Michelle Obama's 50th birthday bash [at the White House Saturday night] featured performances by pop stars Beyoncé and John Legend, and appearances by a host of A-list celebrities … ‘Amazing. Incredible party,’ … Donna Brazile told CNN … ‘Childhood friends there. People from the administration … Beyoncé performed, and … John Legend sang 'Happy Birthday’ … The most moving tribute came [from President] Obama, who talked about the woman he met and fell in love with.’ CNN reported that the party lasted until around 2:00 am, and was attended by actor Samuel Jackson, singer Smokey Robinson and … Magic Johnson.

“The Washington Post … wrote that actress and singer Jennifer Hudson was also on hand. The VIP guest list, The Post reported, also included former President Bill Clinton … Hillary Clinton, former Beatle Paul McCartney, former Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan and folk singing legend James Taylor.”

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ERIC CANTOR op-ed in N.Y. Post, “The right way feds can help schools”: “Recently, The Post told the story of PS 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens where students had no math, reading or writing books for the new Common Core curriculum, no gym or art, and they spent much of their time watching movies. … My proposal — contained in a successful amendment to a recent House bill — would allow those students to take … federal money with them to the public or charter school of their choice. Critics of this idea argue that failing schools simply need more money. … Just over 50 years ago, Dr. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and dreamed of an end to segregation. … Education opportunity is justice for those children trapped in failing schools.” http://goo.gl/bZA3gY

MARGARET CARLSON column for Bloomberg, “Tom Coburn Leaves a Lonely Place Lonelier”: “You knew what might be coming when Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma announced in November that he had a recurrence of cancer. He managed for a long time with a triple threat -- colon and prostate cancer and a benign brain tumor. … He had the white hair, all-American accent and a doctor's wisdom of life and death, his vocation before politics. He talked to the president frequently but didn’t brag about it. … He was often the first to be asked to join the various bipartisan ‘Gangs of.’ His Washington home was the model for the Amazon.com Inc. satire ‘Alpha House,’ yet he didn’t sign his conservative roommate Senator Mike Lee's manifesto calling for defunding Obamacare, because he thought it was the wrong way to go. …

“Reporters don’t get to choose the senators they cover, but you can choose who you ask over to dinner. He was the most ego-free, funny and sensible person you could meet … It helped that he was a country doctor from Muskogee (4,000 babies delivered) and that he preferred to be called Dr. Coburn. He admitted that his mother-in-law, Mamie, liked my political positions better than he did and he asked me to write her a note. When a new senator, Democrat or Republican, arrived in town, Coburn always stopped by for a visit because, he said, Washington is such ‘a lonely place.’” http://goo.gl/axiyv2

THE BIG PICTURE – “Trust in Governments Slides to Record Low Amid U.S. Spy Programs,” by Bloomberg’s Elisa Martinuzzi: “Trust in governments fell, making them the world’s least-trusted institutions for a third year, according to a survey [of 6,000 individuals in 27 countries with a college education and household income in the top quartile] published before policy makers and executives gather for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Faith in governments fell to 44 percent from 48 percent in 2013, according to the 2014 Trust Barometer survey published by Edelman … Trust in business held steady at about 58 percent, bringing its lead over government to the widest in the 14 years the poll has been taken. …

“‘This is a profound evolution in the landscape of trust from 2009 where business had to partner with government to regain trust, to today, where business must lead the debate for change,’ Richard Edelman, the firm’s chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. Trust in CEOs is at 43 percent, above the 36 percent score for government officials, according to the survey. Confidence in the media slipped 5 percentage points to 52 percent. Banks and financial services were the least-trusted industries for the fourth year, scoring 51 percent, up 1 point from 2013, the survey shows. Technology companies topped the ranking again at 79 percent, up two percentage points from the previous year.” http://goo.gl/aQJYkU

BREAKING THIS MORNING -- “Mega-donors plan LGBT panels at Davos,” by Maggie Haberman: “Mega-donors Paul Singer and Dan Loeb are planning to use the typically-staid World Economic Forum at Davos later this week to make a statement about gay rights, flying LGBT activists in from around the globe – including a major critic of Russian President Vladmir Putin … [Singer is one of the GOP’s top money donors and Loeb often gives to Democrats; both backed Romney in ’12.] Singer and Loeb, partnering with the Human Rights Campaign, have organized … two panels at Davos that are dedicated to the international LGBT rights agenda. A featured attendee at one of the panels will be Masha Gessen, a lesbian mother of four and a journalist and activist who has been deeply critical of Putin and of Russia’s new anti-gay law.

“The Davos forum, which kicks off Wednesday, is usually a week of political calm, devoid of anyone singling out countries or politicians for criticism. … ‘There is systematic repression of human rights of gays and lesbians in a number of countries represented at the World Economic Forum,’ said one source close to Singer … Among the corporate sponsors are Microsoft and Time Warner. … One panel is entitled, ‘Gay Rights -- Progress and Backlash. Reports from Russia, Uganda, Jamaica.’ The other is called, ‘The LGBT Agenda, US Politics, & US Foreign Policy,’ and features Singer, Loeb, Microsoft executive vice president Brad Smith, and HRC head Chad Griffin. Both are moderated by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria …

“Singer and Loeb were among the chief funders, along with … Mike Bloomberg, of efforts to pass New York State’s gay marriage law in 2011. And Singer has a super PAC, American Unity PAC, that was formed to help pass gay marriage laws.”

THE STATE OF THE ART -- “The treacherous road from consultant to candidate,” by James Hohmann: “During his campaign for Virginia governor last year, longtime political fixer Terry McAuliffe was castigated for his role in the Clinton fundraising scandals … So when Ed Gillespie watched McAuliffe deliver his victory speech on Election Night, friends and associates said the Republican couldn’t help but think: If he can do this, why can’t I? Gillespie — the former RNC chairman and seasoned lobbyist turned Senate candidate from Virginia — last week became the latest in a long line of political wise men and women to put their consulting work aside and go for the brass ring themselves. [New York Mayor Bill de Blasio started in politics as junior staffer for New York City’s first African-American mayor, David N. Dinkins, and later managed Hillary Clinton’s successful Senate campaign.]…

“For every Rahm Emanuel … there’s a Bill Daley, the ex-chief of staff to President Obama who withdrew as a candidate for Illinois governor last year. … The experience as a backstage hand can be highly valuable … Candidates who’ve seen up close what makes for a successful campaign — or a disastrous one — can’t be easily had by vendors. They understand polling and are better attuned to how messaging plays with various constituencies. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) believes his background running congressional campaigns gave him a major advantage … The former NRCC executive director knew exactly which ad maker and pollster to hire and how much he should pay for their services. He offered his consultants smaller retainers but bigger bonuses if he won, so they would be more invested in his success. …

“Haley Barbour, a leading Republican strategist and mentor of Gillespie’s, also made that grade when he ran for Mississippi governor in 2003. He came to the campaign as one of the most seasoned and savvy political strategists in the GOP, boasting stints as political director in Ronald Reagan’s White House and at the helm of the RNC. … ‘The candidate’s got to remember he’s the horse and not the jockey,’ Barbour said.”

BEYOND THE BELTWAY – MAJOR ISSUE FOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO DECIDE IN COMING MONTHS -- Anchorage Daily News A-1, top of col. 1, “BEGICH: PEBBLE ‘WRONG MINE’: U.S. Senator speaks out against proposed project EPA says will harm fisheries,” by Lisa Demer: “Sen. Mark Begich says that he's concluded the proposed Pebble mine cannot be developed without harming the Bristol Bay region's world-famous red salmon runs. … He's the first member of Alaska's current congressional delegation to speak out firmly in opposition to the mine. His comments came after the [EPA] released a hefty … study Wednesday that found a big mine posed significant risks to Bristol Bay salmon. The huge Pebble gold and copper deposit is at the headwaters of two rivers that together account for 25 percent of the world's sockeye salmon production.” http://goo.gl/bazwH0

BRONCOS SLIGHT FAVORITE IN SUPER BOWL -- AP Senior Sports Writer Tim Dahlberg in Vegas: “Oddsmakers had trouble picking the favorite in what figures to be one of the most evenly matched - and heavily bet - Super Bowls ever. … Denver was favored by 1 point at several books in the early betting, while others had the Broncos as high as a 3-point pick. The move to the Broncos came after some books had initially made the Seahawks as much as a 2-point pick in the game.” http://goo.gl/NtKtvI

--“Lookahead: Broncos-Seahawks Super Bowl pits top 'O,' top 'D,’” by AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich: “Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos and [mouthy cornerback] Richard Sherman's Seattle Seahawks [yesterday, Sherman made a choke sign toward the S.F. bench] were the NFL's best all season, so it's fitting that they'll meet in the Super Bowl. Nobody scored as many points or gained as many yards as the Broncos. Nobody allowed as few points or gave up as few yards as the Seahawks. And nobody won as many games …

“When the AFC champion Broncos (15-3) play the NFC champion Seahawks (15-3) on Feb. 2 at what could be a chilly MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., it will be the first Super Bowl since 1991 pitting the league's highest-scoring team in the regular season against the team that was scored on the least … It's also only the second time in the last 20 Super Bowls that the No. 1 seed in each conference reached the NFL championship game. … Manning, … 37, … is the only four-time NFL MVP … Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson … is 6 inches shorter, 12 years younger, a skilled scrambler in only his second pro season.” http://goo.gl/97LXUH

MEDIAWATCH – N.Y. Times B3, “Kinsley to Join Vanity Fair As Columnist,” by Ravi Somaiya: “Michael Kinsley will join Vanity Fair as a contributing editor, stepping down as editor at large of The New Republic, and leaving its masthead for the first time since 1976. Mr. Kinsley will write a monthly column, … which is likely to cover ‘what I’ve written about most of the time: politics, in one form or another’ … His first column will appear in the spring. Mr. Kinsley, 62, … was formerly the editor of Harper’s and The New Republic and was a founding editor of Slate. He has written columns for Time, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Politico and Bloomberg View …

“‘In my world, Michael is the gold standard of thoughtful journalism,’ said Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair. Mr. Carter said he tried unsuccessfully to hire Mr. Kinsley shortly after taking the helm in 1992. ‘We play a long game at Vanity Fair.’” http://goo.gl/ynTtxo

--DAVID POGUE SUCCESSOR – NYT’s Noam Cohen: “The New York Times has hired Farhad Manjoo, a technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal, to write the ‘State of the Art’ technology column that reviews new software and devices. Mr. Manjoo, 35, will succeed David Pogue, who left The Times in October after 13 years to create a new consumer-focused technology site for Yahoo … Manjoo joins The Times next month and will be based in San Francisco.” http://goo.gl/Exf5DI

--NBC NEWS EXEC ALEXANDRA WALLACE now oversees D.C. Bureau, “Meet,” per internal memo from NBC News President Deborah Turness: “Alex Wallace will formally deputize for me and serve as my back-up in times that I am unavailable. Having been instrumental in the recent growth at the TODAY show in TV and digital, I have asked her to now focus her efforts on a newly-created position that will enable her to deliver that same cross-platform approach and growth to other areas of our business. As SVP News, she will become the General Manager/360 Leader for ‘Nightly News’ and ‘Meet the Press,’ and will lead all our editorial and political coverage out of the DC bureau.

“This is a pivotal role as we focus our efforts on being number one on every platform and on transforming our premium TV brands into premium digital properties. Alex is uniquely placed to unlock the multi-platform future of ‘Nightly News,’ and to make ‘Meet the Press’ a 7 days-a-week source for politics and beltway buzz, working with Pat Burkey and Rob Yarin respectively. She will also continue to be my right hand person on all news-related matters and will work closely with Ken Strickland who continues his role managing the Washington Bureau, in close collaboration with David Verdi.” Capital New York posted the memo’s full texthttp://goo.gl/qfQ9RM ... Alexandra Wallace biohttp://goo.gl/yj3I3E

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Melissa Boteach, director of the Half in Ten and Poverty and Prosperity Program for the Center for American Progress, relaxing after her hard work on last week’s Shriver Report, and celebrating with her 8-month old son, Jake (h/t Adam Kaplan)

DESSERT – “Leno's last guest announced, while Fallon and Meyers reveal their first guests,” by L.A. Times’ Yvonne Villarreal : “While promoting his new position as ‘Tonight Show’ host Sunday at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Pasadena, Jimmy Fallon revealed the first guests of his Feb, 17 debut. … It's Will Smith and … U2. … Jay Leno will once more wrap his run as late-night king pin — a gig that has totaled more than two decades — on Feb. 6 with first-ever guest Billy Crystal returning to send out Leno, along with musical guest Garth Brooks. … Seth Meyers, who will take over Fallon's ‘Late Night’ spot, announced later on Sunday that fellow ‘SNL’ alum and NBC top dog Amy Poehler will be his first guest. … Fallon said that not much will change from the offbeat style of … ‘Late Night’ …

“So those click-worthy videos, like last week's bit wherein he and Bruce Springsteen poked fun at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, … won't be falling by the wayside. … Fallon said he gave Christie a heads-up that he recruited Springsteen, an idol of Christie's, for the routine -- because he had been a guest on the show and because he knew it might not go down easy with the governor. … ‘I let Chris Christie know we were doing it. And I said, “The silver lining is Bruce Springsteen says your name.”’ Then a pause. ‘I haven't heard back yet.’” http://goo.gl/LPvFfR

** A message from the National Retail Federation: Retailers are innovating at the speed of light when it comes to how customers interact with brands through mobile, implementing quick and easy digital payments and receipts and reinventing the physical storefront to keep up with changing consumer demands. These topics and more were key conversation drivers at Retail’s BIG Show last week, as NRF welcomed more than 30,000 industry professional to New York City for an educational and networking experience you can’t find anywhere else.

Want to find out how these innovations impact public policy? Here’s what you need to know. http://retailmeansjobs.com Follow the conversation with #nrf14. **

****** A message from the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs (CAPD): The high prices that drug makers set for prescription drugs can put financial strain on patients, employers, unions and others who provide health care coverage to more than 50 percent of Americans. Pharmacy benefit managers negotiate the lowest net price for prescriptions on behalf of employers, unions and government programs. But, as list prices – the starting point for those negotiations -- continue their nearly double-digit increases, the effects ripple throughout the system. The key to ensuring greater access and affordability lies in fostering greater competition. Facilitating faster reviews of generics and biosimilars, identifying off-patent drugs with little or no generic competition, and ending anti-competitive practices that keep safe, effective alternatives out of the market are also key to abating rising drug costs for patients. Learn more at affordableprescriptiondrugs.org******

Authors:

About The Author

Mike Allen is the chief White House correspondent for POLITICO. He comes to us from Time magazine where he was their White House correspondent. Prior to that, Allen spent six years at The Washington Post, where he covered President Bush's first term, Capitol Hill, campaign finance, and the Bush, Gore and Bradley campaigns of 2000. Before turning to national politics, he covered schools and local governments in rural counties outside Fredericksburg, Va., for The Free Lance-Star, then wrote about Doug Wilder, Oliver North, Chuck Robb and the Bobbitts for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, where he nurtured police sources on overnight ride-alongs through housing projects. Allen also covered Mayor Giuliani, the Connecticut statehouse and the wacky rich of Greenwich for The New York Times. Before moving to The Times, he did stints in the Richmond and Alexandria bureaus of The Washington Post. Allen grew up in Orange County, Calif., and has a B.A. from Washington and Lee University, where he majored in politics and journalism.